Johnie Weatherford (2-13-15) service 2-18-15

Johnie Howard Weatherford was born April 14, 1929, in Hardin County, the son of the late Clarence and Edith Beckham Weatherford. He was united in marriage to Ira Sticklin, who survives, on Dec. 24, 1948.
Mr. Weatherford was a union representative for 43 years at Bendix Corporation. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Savannah and was a member of U.A.W. Local 9, South Bend, Indiana, where he served first as vice president for nine years, then president for 14 years. In 1983, he was appointed by then Indiana Governor Robert Orr to the Indiana Labor Management Commission, where he served until 1996.
He spent his early life in Wayne County before later moving to South Bend, Indiana, and retiring in Savannah. He was a devoted family man who loved spending time with his son and his grandchildren. He was especially thrilled by the arrival of his first great-grandchild, Sophia, in August of 2014. He also enjoyed fishing and gardening and he never met a stranger.
Mr. Weatherford departed this life on Friday, Feb. 13, in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 85 years, 9 months, 30 days. In addition to his wife of 66 years, he is survived by a son, Jerry Weatherford of Huntsville, Alabama; three grandchildren, Amy Wilcox, Jeremy Weatherford and Jill Davis; one great-grandchild, Sophia Davis; and one sister, Earline Johnson of Savannah.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Weatherford was preceded in death by four brothers, Eldrich Weatherford, Linville Weatherford, Willie Earl Weatherford, James Weatherford; and one sister, Imogene Sinclair.
Services were held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m., at Shackelford Chapel in Savannah with Dr. Ron Brown officiating. Burial followed in the Lutts Cemetery at Lutts, Tennessee.